Official Statement Regarding SPRUNKI Intellectual Property

Last Updated: January 2025

Legal Ownership Declaration

ShinStar LLC is the sole legal owner and operator of the SPRUNKI brand and all associated intellectual property rights.

Registered Trademarks

  • ✓ US Federal Trademark Registration
  • - Serial No. 98872697 (Class 28)
  • - Serial No. 98805701 (Class 42)
  • - Serial No. 98872706 (Class 9)
  • ✓ International Registration (WIPO)
  • - UK: UK00004147997

Copyright Registration

  • ✓ US Copyright Registration
  • - Registration No. VAu 1-556-801
  • - Registered: February 11, 2025
  • - Covers: Sprunki characters and related works

Official Contact Information

Legal Entity:

ShinStar LLC

EIN:

[REDACTED FOR PRIVACY]

Principal Address:

1942 Broadway Street, Suite 314C

Boulder, Colorado 80302, United States

Authorized Communication Channels ONLY:

⚠️ URGENT FRAUD ALERT ⚠️

Protect Yourself from Impersonators and Fraudulent Activities

WARNING: Known Fraudulent Activities

We have identified multiple instances of fraud involving individuals and entities falsely claiming to represent ShinStar LLC or the SPRUNKI brand.

Confirmed Fraudulent Entities and Domains

  • Fraudulent Domain: sprunkillc.com

    Registered: November 2, 2024 (AFTER our trademark registration)

    Status: Successfully shut down via legal action

  • Fraudulent Domain: sprunkiverse.com

    Falsely claimed to be "Sprunkiverse Inc." (non-existent entity)

    Status: Successfully shut down via legal action

  • Fraudulent Individuals:

    - Individual known as "Nick D" or "Markus Dalton"

    - Email addresses: [email protected], [email protected]

    These individuals have NO authorization from ShinStar LLC

Evidence of Fraudulent Conduct

Documented evidence from the Roblox developer community:

"I refused to collaborate with SprunkiLLC.com, because they (Nick D.) refuse to provide any proof they represent NyankoBfLol and made unreasonable demands."

- Roblox Game Developer, November 5, 2024

Note: The fraudulent parties attempted to collect unauthorized licensing fees and misrepresented their authority to act on behalf of SPRUNKI intellectual property.

How to Identify Official vs. Fraudulent Communications

✓ LEGITIMATE Official Contact
  • ✓ Domain: sprunki.com ONLY
  • ✓ Email: @sprunki.com addresses only
  • ✓ Can verify trademark ownership via USPTO
  • ✓ References ShinStar LLC as legal entity
  • ✓ Professional communication standards
✗ FRAUDULENT Warning Signs
  • ✗ Any domain other than sprunki.com
  • ✗ Refuses to provide verification documents
  • ✗ Demands immediate payment
  • ✗ Uses high-pressure tactics
  • ✗ Cannot verify trademark registration
  • ✗ Vague or evasive about legal authority

Legal Actions Taken

  • ✓ Reported to FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
  • ✓ Filed complaints with Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
  • ✓ Reported to ICANN and domain registrars
  • ✓ Successfully obtained domain registry suspension for fraudulent sites
  • ✓ Successfully obtained hosting provider suspension for associated accounts
  • ✓ Engaged legal counsel for civil and criminal prosecution
  • ✓ Federal trademark infringement lawsuit filed in US District Court
  • ✓ Ongoing monitoring and enforcement actions

If You Have Been Contacted by Fraudulent Parties

Take these immediate steps to protect yourself:

  1. DO NOT comply with any demands or make any payments
  2. DO NOT provide any personal or business information
  3. Document all communications (save emails, screenshots, etc.)
  4. Report the fraud attempt to: [email protected]
  5. Report to local law enforcement and FBI's IC3: www.ic3.gov
  6. Contact our official email for verification: [email protected]

Official Licensing Policy

How to Legally Use SPRUNKI Intellectual Property

All commercial use of SPRUNKI trademarks, copyrights, and character designs requires proper authorization from ShinStar LLC. We offer different licensing options depending on the scope and nature of your project.

✓ FREE: Non-Commercial Fan Content

We welcome and encourage fan creativity! You may create non-commercial fan content under these conditions:

  • Include clear credit: "Based on SPRUNKI from sprunki.com" in your content description
  • Maintain family-friendly content appropriate for all ages
  • Ensure character representation aligns with SPRUNKI brand values
  • Do not imply official endorsement or affiliation
  • Do not use SPRUNKI trademarks as your own product/service names

Examples: Fan art, gameplay videos, tutorials, mods for personal use, educational content

💰 FREE: Small-Scale Monetized Content

For personal and small-scale monetized content (such as YouTube videos with ad revenue, small Patreon projects), we grant free usage rights under these terms:

  • You must credit "sprunki.com" as the official source in all content descriptions
  • Revenue generation must be incidental (ads, small donations, etc.)
  • You are not creating competing products or services
  • You maintain family-friendly content standards
  • Total annual revenue from SPRUNKI-related content does not exceed $10,000 USD

Examples: YouTube videos with ads, small Twitch streams, Patreon-supported fan projects, print-on-demand personal items

📄 REQUIRED: Commercial Licensing

Formal licensing agreements and fees are required for larger-scale commercial endeavors, including:

  • Game development or apps featuring SPRUNKI characters
  • Merchandise production and sale (toys, clothing, accessories, etc.)
  • Commercial software or services using SPRUNKI IP
  • Brand partnerships or sponsorships
  • Any project with anticipated annual revenue exceeding $10,000 USD
  • Roblox games, mobile apps, or other platform-based experiences

To inquire about commercial licensing, contact: [email protected]

Please include: Your company/individual information, detailed project description, business model, anticipated launch date, and target platforms.

✗ PROHIBITED: Unauthorized Commercial Use

The following activities are strictly prohibited without written authorization and constitute trademark infringement:

  • Manufacturing or selling products bearing SPRUNKI trademarks
  • Operating commercial games or apps using SPRUNKI characters without license
  • Registering domain names containing "sprunki" or similar marks
  • Using SPRUNKI marks in your company, product, or service names
  • Creating derivative works for commercial sale
  • Implying false affiliation or endorsement by SPRUNKI or ShinStar LLC

⚠️ Violators will face civil litigation, injunctions, and substantial monetary damages.

Trademark Verification Tools

Verify Authentic SPRUNKI Trademark Ownership

Anyone claiming to own or represent SPRUNKI trademarks can be verified through official government databases. All SPRUNKI trademark registrations are publicly accessible.

Official Trademark Search Databases

🇺🇸 United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Official US government trademark database

https://tsdr.uspto.gov/

Search for our registrations:

  • • Serial Number: 98872697 (Toys and Games)
  • • Serial Number: 98805701 (Software Services)
  • • Serial Number: 98872706 (Software)
  • Owner: ShinStar LLC, Boulder, CO 80302

🌍 WIPO Global Brand Database

World Intellectual Property Organization international trademark database

https://www.wipo.int/branddb/

Search for:

  • • Brand Name: SPRUNKI
  • • UK Registration: UK00004147997
  • Owner: ShinStar LLC

📚 US Copyright Office

Official US government copyright database

https://www.copyright.gov/records/

Copyright Registration:

  • • Registration Number: VAu 1-556-801
  • • Title: "Wenda(White) and 5 Other Unpublished Works"
  • • Registration Date: February 11, 2025
  • Owner: ShinStar LLC

⚠️ Verification Warning

Any individual or entity claiming to own or represent SPRUNKI trademarks who is NOT listed as "ShinStar LLC" in the official databases above is fraudulent.

If someone claims trademark ownership, ask them to provide their USPTO registration number and verify it yourself through the official databases.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Who owns the SPRUNKI trademarks and copyrights?

A: ShinStar LLC is the sole legal owner of all SPRUNKI intellectual property, including all trademarks and copyrights. This can be independently verified through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database and the US Copyright Office records. Search for registration numbers listed above.

Q: How did ShinStar LLC acquire SPRUNKI?

A: ShinStar LLC lawfully acquired all intellectual property rights to SPRUNKI and has duly registered these rights with appropriate government agencies. Specific business arrangements are confidential commercial information. What matters is that ShinStar LLC is the current registered owner as evidenced by official trademark and copyright registrations.

Q: I saw SPRUNKI content on Roblox, YouTube, or other platforms. Is this authorized?

A: Only content creators who have received explicit written authorization from ShinStar LLC are legally permitted to use SPRUNKI intellectual property commercially. The majority of unauthorized commercial uses constitute trademark and copyright infringement. Non-commercial fan content with proper attribution is generally acceptable under our fair use policy (see Licensing section above).

Q: Can I create SPRUNKI fan content or mods?

A: Yes! Non-commercial fan content is welcomed and encouraged. You must:

  • Include attribution: "Based on SPRUNKI from sprunki.com"
  • Keep content family-friendly
  • Not imply official affiliation or endorsement
  • Not use for commercial purposes without licensing

Q: Someone contacted me demanding payment to use SPRUNKI. Is this legitimate?

A: Verify the source immediately! Legitimate licensing inquiries will ONLY come from [email protected] email addresses and will reference ShinStar LLC as the legal entity. If contacted by anyone else (especially domains like sprunkillc.com or individuals like "Nick D"), this is fraud. Do not comply with demands and report to [email protected].

Q: How do I obtain commercial licensing for SPRUNKI?

A: For legitimate commercial licensing inquiries, email [email protected] with:

  • Your company/individual information
  • Detailed project description
  • Business model and revenue expectations
  • Target platforms and launch timeline

Our licensing team will respond within 5-7 business days with fee structure and terms.

Q: I found counterfeit SPRUNKI products being sold online. What should I do?

A: Thank you for helping protect the SPRUNKI brand! Please report counterfeit or infringing products to [email protected] with:

  • URL or location of infringing content/products
  • Screenshots or photos
  • Seller information (if available)
  • Any other relevant details

We actively pursue legal action against counterfeiters and infringers.

Q: What is ShinStar LLC's relationship with NyankoBfLol?

A: ShinStar LLC is the legal owner and operator of all SPRUNKI intellectual property. Any business relationships or arrangements are private commercial matters. What is publicly verifiable and legally relevant is that ShinStar LLC holds the registered trademarks and copyrights as shown in USPTO and Copyright Office records.

Q: How can I verify that ShinStar LLC is the legitimate owner?

A: Verification is simple and free:

  1. Visit USPTO TSDR Database
  2. Search for serial numbers: 98872697, 98805701, or 98872706
  3. Verify the owner is listed as "ShinStar LLC, Boulder, CO"
  4. Check registration status (should show "Live/Registered")

Official government records are the definitive proof of trademark ownership.

Official Contacts

Legal Entity

  • ShinStar LLC
  • 1942 Broadway Street, Suite 314C
  • Boulder, Colorado 80302
  • United States

Quick Links

© 2024-2025 ShinStar LLC. All rights reserved. SPRUNKI is a registered trademark of ShinStar LLC.

For verification, concerns, or to report fraud, please contact our official channels only. Stay vigilant against fraud attempts and unauthorized use of SPRUNKI intellectual property.

Last Updated: January 2025 | This notice supersedes all prior communications